One
of the most frequently asked questions about
supplements is whether or not it will interfere with
the medications that a person is currently taking.

Supplements
usually mean that it will supplement your diet so that
you have all of the body’s requirements to survive.

There
are forty nutrients that cannot be made in the body.
They are essential fatty acids, 15 vitamins, 14
minerals, and 10 amino acids.The body needs all of them.If you are not getting them from the food you
eat, you can supplement with these nutritional
supplements.

This
definition of supplement is really food and thus will
usually not interfere with any drug.

However,
supplements come in all forms and all combinations.

You can find vitamins and herbs together.This may be because besides treating a
deficiency there are things the body will need to get
well.This
is usually considered a medical food.

Herbs
unlike vitamins are not essential to the body and are
used for their natural healing ability.It is something that will force your body to do
something it normally wouldn’t do, much like a drug
does.

Of
course, herbs are made in nature and not in a
laboratory so not harmful.But, can you take it with your medications?

There
is an easy answer to this, and can be done no matter
what supplement you want to take.

If
you are unsure, see your pharmacist.Pharmacists have a database that is designed to
do just that – check to see if different drugs can
be taken together safely.This is necessitated by the fact that people can have
more than one doctor, and more than one doctor
prescribing them more than one drug. Many people
are on multiple medications.

This
database can also be used to check to see if any type
of supplement, herb or drug can be taken together.

We have used our best judgment in compiling this information. The Food and Drug Administration may not have evaluated the information presented. Any reference to a specific product is for your information only and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease